Working a paid internship in ÷ČÓ°Ö±²„ Athletics means working nights and weekends. The deadlines are constant ā before a game, during a game and after a game.
WSU students are learning the importance of teamwork and communication in order to handle the pace and conditions as part of the athletic departmentās creative team.
Knowing they are serving as a conduit from all 16 Shockers sports to their fans makes it a job they enjoy.
āThere is always something happening with each sports team,ā said sophomore Bryan Chavez, a journalism and media production major from Dallas. āWeāre providing for fans, and theyāre relying on us. Thatās what makes it a fun job.ā
Kat Ramirez, creative services manager, manages a team of 10 ÷ČÓ°Ö±²„ students, plus content producers Willie Schwanke and Brian Barnes. The paid applied learning positions help students with expenses while they improve their skills and add to their resume.
āIt definitely helps with the daily necessity things,ā said Skylar Fleeman, who is working on her masterās degree in communication. āEverything piles on when you start entering adulthood, finances being one of them. I need to get gas, and you have money. I need to pick up a few things from the store.ā
Fleeman, who also works as a personal assistant for a family, appreciates the flexibility her job with the creative team offers. She can fit her class work, jobs and life responsibilities into an effective schedule.
āItās also great because your job is on campus,ā she said. āThatās why I stayed to continue this internship and get my masterās. I have this little community, and I know I can still grow here. When Iām done, I know they have set me up for great things.ā
The students shoot video and photographs and work with graphics and social media content. This team is responsible for the video, photo and graphics fans see on social media and in venues. Their applied learning experiences include creating graphics to celebrate when a Shocker is named conference player of the week, intro videos at Charles Koch Arena and game highlights and updates.
āIf you donāt get Corey Washingtonās dunk uploaded right after it happens, the fans are going to miss out on that experience,ā said Fleeman.

Fleeman, from San Diego, works primarily with volleyball, softball and cheer and dance. Chavez covers bowling, menās and womenās basketball and baseball.
Their week starts with an 8:15 a.m. Monday meeting during which Ramirez maps out the events and coverage duties. Being part of the Shocker creative team teaches them time management, organization and teamwork.
āCommunication is key,ā Chavez said. āOver-communicating is way better than under-communicating.ā
Fleemanās family grew up in and around Wichita and her grandfather had season tickets for Shocker basketball for many years. That family connection brought her to WSU, where she earned her bachelorās degree in communications with an emphasis in electronic media.
āThe Shockers were very instilled in me,ā she said.
Both Fleeman and Chavez want to stay in sports as a creative after their time at Wichita State.
āThe more versatile you are, the more wanted youāre going to be,ā Fleeman said. āKat has done a really good job showing us that we need to be leaders, and we need to take charge of our stuff and get it done.ā
Ramirez enjoys organizing and leading the group through the taxing schedule of athletic seasons.
āI love it, because I didnāt have that when I was developing as a young creative,ā Ramirez said. āI want to be that mentor that I wish I had and then instill that in them so that when they get in my position theyāll be able to pay it back.ā
About ÷ČÓ°Ö±²„
÷ČÓ°Ö±²„ is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 23,000 students between its main campus and WSU Tech, including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. ÷ČÓ°Ö±²„ and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.
Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), ÷ČÓ°Ö±²„ provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry-funded engineering R&D and No. 8 overall for engineering R&D.
The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the ÷ČÓ°Ö±²„ main campus, is one of the nationās largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.
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